The world of single-board computers is constantly evolving, and the Raspberry Pi series continues to be at the forefront of this innovation. With the Raspberry Pi 5, users are now able to expand its functionalities significantly thanks to a new expansion board. This board not only introduces the capability to add a Solid State Drive (SSD) but also integrates a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for accelerated artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Pineboards has introduced an innovative expansion board that makes these additions possible. The board, known as the Pineboards Ai Bundle, features an M.2 2280 slot for SSDs that adheres to the Key M standard. In addition, there is an M.2 2230 slot in the Key A/E configuration, which has been pre-filled with a Hailo 8L computing chip. The Hailo-8L is a dedicated NPU designed to enhance AI capabilities, delivering a performance rate of 13 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This boost enables more advanced applications, such as image recognition tasks for security cameras, and makes it possible to implement real-time object recognition for various creative or practical purposes.
The Hailo-8L chip, specifically geared towards entry-level AI acceleration, is compatible with rpicam apps, with Hailo also offering proprietary software solutions. To address the potential for heat generation, the chip is equipped with passive cooling, employing a heat conduction pad situated beneath the board.
The versatility of the expansion board extends to its support for different sizes of SSDs, including M.2 2230, M.2 2242, and M.2 2280, with connections to the Raspberry Pi 5 happening over PCIe. While the typical data transfer rate limitations apply, the board’s positioning below the main unit ensures that the General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pin header remains accessible for other projects and expansions.
The Ai Bundle is strategically priced at around EUR 90 ($98), although the final cost may vary based on the purchaser’s location. Notably, those looking to further customize their set-up will find that the installed Hailo 8L chip can be substituted, allowing for flexibility and potential upgrades.
This expansion is an excellent example of how the modularity and versatility of single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi 5 are being leveraged to create even more potent and multifaceted computing solutions. By adding SSD storage and AI processing power, enthusiasts and professionals alike can now push their projects to new heights, taking full advantage of the compact form factor and cost-effectiveness that define the Raspberry Pi series.
Whether it’s for developing sophisticated AI applications, enhancing multimedia projects, or simply boosting storage capacities, this expansion board offers an exciting opportunity to expand the Raspberry Pi’s capabilities and explore the intersection of compact computing and high-performance AI.
